News

Not always do a 3-0 defeat invoke such positive emotions, but after the heroic second half exploits of Hilderinc FC, one could be forgiven to afford exceptions.

Needed to win, or at least get a point against promoted Magista FC in their final league game of the season, which though began promisingly, derailed in the face of an usually recurring phenomenon, one which left the Blacks with reduced personnel in each of their last six league games, though the numbers were always hale and hearty for all their friendlies played in between.

Despite the importance of the day, the vexatious theme would repeat itself, rendering the Hilderincs decimated after almost half the team became unavailable for various reasons, making the situation so dire that the Blacks had to once again call upon the Sunday Hilderincs for assistance, while making a public plea on social media to take a goalkeeper on loan.

And even after concerted attempts and managing to bring the list up to fifteen on matchday, as if jinxed, a trio of withdrawals would further exasperate the Blacks’ resolve, and only the eleventh hour addition of Glenn Sandhu, who’s response to a late SOS was heaven-sent, giving the Hilderincs at least one outfield option to rotate.

While the Blacks, despite their own travails, started the game with a slight numeric advantage, Magista’s temporary deficiency of their own failed to deceive once they had the full complement on the pitch and on the bench.

Though it was an even start by both teams, the opponents were persistent with their intent to go down the flanks, and after the initial resistance, the Hilderincs fell behind after a quick counter.

If the reverse fixture between these sides was to be any indicator, the action was never going to be settled just yet.

The Blacks responded well to going behind, and had several opportunities of their own to equalise, showing plenty of fight in the progress, as they prodded the Magista backline for a breakthrough.

And while the game was evenly poised, in despite of the slender advantage, two late quick-fire goals would leave the battling Hilderincs in a quandary, one that could have ended as a contest had the crossbar not come to their aid.

With loanee goalkeeper, Hylal Azmee unable to carry on after the break due to an injury, the Blacks were further reduced to only twelve men for the restart.

Having nothing to lose, the Hilderincs started the second half in a frenzied fashion, running riot against an uncomfortable opponent, as they quite literally threw caution to the wing to find any way into the game.

Pressing and charging like men infused by some mythical energy, the Hilderincs fought like warriors on a last stand, taking the fight deep into the Magista final third, with Diogo Baptista, Erdogan Albay, Glenn Sandhu, Danish Saarin, Travis Fujii and Kumaresan Maniam showing fire in their bellies.

Even when the Blacks were sporadically tested by occasional counterattacks, Basil Al Barr, Nicholas Ledenmark, Dionsis Kolotsas and Mike De Bear, the Hilderinc rearguards, stood a men taller and bigger against the intimidations, and not to be outdone, Liao Jincai, who was personally challenged to keep a clean sheet, more than rose to the task with an outstanding outing.

The Blacks had more than enough attempts to perhaps complete a remarkable comeback, but the massive physical exertions put in proved telling as opportunities were not finished with usual aplomb as Travis Fujii, Diogo Baptista and Erdogan Albay coming closest.

When the Hilderincs did catch it cleanly when Kumaresan Maniam, who has been in a deadly scoring form for both HFC sides, put his laces through on a shot, the Magista goalkeeper came up with a fine save, denying him and the Blacks a deserved goal.

Though their fate in Division 3 is no longer in their own hands, and need other results to go for them from now till the rest complete their fixtures in a month’s time, Hilderinc FC will say goodbye to a campaign that has been nothing but prejudiced in strange circumstances, and go into their season break, knowing that whatever happens, their spirit remains very much alive.